July Monarchy

The July Monarchy was a liberal constitutional monarchy that ruled over France from 1830 to 1848, following the July Revolution and preceding the French Revolution of 1848. Louis Philippe I and the Orleanists ruled over France for eighteen years, replacing Charles X of France and his Legitimists after the July uprising of 1830. He promised to follow the juste milieu, a "middle road" between conservatism and radicalism, and the monarchy was dominated by former Napoleonic officials and the wealthy bourgeoisie. From 1840 to 1848, the monarchy followed conservative policies under Minister of Foreign Affairs Francois Guizot, and the king supported the conquest of Algeria and an alliance with the United Kingdom. The monarchy would not have the support of France's poorest citizens due to its status as a wealthy-ruled bureaucracy, leading to the failed 1832 June Rebellion and the successful 1848 revolution. The French Second Republic replaced the July Monarchy after the revolution.